New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-06


prospect OF the coming fight. felt his ardor rcdouben
before the obstacles and opposition that confronted
all AboiitiJnists. In 1886 he Appeared first publicly
as the champion of the anti-slavery cause Inc Ut
erauce. of"The Philanthropist" antslayerv paper
in Cincinnati editea by James B:Tney slavehoider
who had enancpated his slaves, became offensive 10
the strong pro slavery eenent. riot broke out
and Tor n week Cincinnati was overrun by mop
headed by Kentucky siaveholders. Young Beecher
asked to be sworn OF the sP ecid policemen
and armed with pistol patroed the streets At this
time ia the absence of Mr.. Branard he was Tor lew
months occupying the editorial chair In the Office OF
81 The Cincinnati Journal" the organ OF the New
School Presbyterian Church. and bis Indignation over
the Birncy riot found vent in some pungcn editorials,
winch produce marked effect
In 1897 Mr.. Beechei concluded his theological
stndes lie married Mrs. L. ". Bullard, and, taking
the nj 1t offer made him, settled over Presbyterian
church 10 Lawrenceburg. little town on the ONO not
ja- from Cincinnati. Here he preached Tor two years
m a small church. performing all the duties of sexton
sweeping the house. making tho fires. and doing
nreaeh-tlat they had to do" A larger field OF use
iulness opened in 1899 by call to Indianapolis
then a town OF about $500 inhabitants. Here he
lived and labored Tor eight years and here his nt-
epce as q speaker writer and thinker BEGAN 10 make
itself strongl, felt His new style OF preaching
crowded his church and began to spread bis tame
abroad. In the third year OF his ministry great
| revival began which spread throughout the state
member of his church wrote OF HIM: IL u not I'M
| however,
as he is remembered by acme OF the congregation,
pungng through the wet streets, HIS trousers stuueo
muddy boot legs, earnest. untlfinS, swift WIN
merry heart, glowing face and heplui w,ru
for every one the whole day preaching Christ to the
| people where he could find them, and at nlSht
preachiug still where the eople could find him. The
rrrowth IN his church that sprang from this revival
| con tin cd throughout his pasorate 80
There was then feeling in the Church almost
| throughout the country, which especially strong
in Indianapolis. against discussions on hiavery IRON
I the pulpit Some of Mr.. Beecher's most prominent
being even publicly named by Christian minister.
But he emphasized his position by early introducing
into the Synod a resolution declaring that every
minister sho. Id preach thorough exposition ana
condemnation OF slavery Thercupon, he preached
three sermons upon the fife OF Moses, the bondage OF
the children OF Israel under Pharaoh aud their deliver,
ance His hearers, who had comfortably settled
themselves listen TO rebuke OF the Old Testament
cu,pnts were electrified by a searching and mercilrss
expuse of the horrors OF American slavery anu scath
ing denunciation OF the whole institution lhele was
talk and excitement OF Tut Mr.. Beccher per
sisted in openly attacking the great wroos .h ha
through his persistence his church became one Oh e
| stroneholds OF the Anti Slavery cause
Lite in the West then was free and unconvennonoi,
sometimes to the extent OF license and Mr, heecher
preached series OF powerful sermons against these
| popular vices which were aiterward published aS
| Mr. Beecher never engaged al controversial strife
| on points OF doctrine. Ministers OF every denomnh-
ton were welcomed at bis homeIa cottage on the
outskirts of the town inspected his beloved garden
shared his rides over the rolling prairies. In MS
leisure hours his love for nature found scope Tor en-
|
on gardening. farming and stock raising. Imported
and oct out and rrut trees attended to the
wants Of his Berkshire pig' and Durham am cows . eg
| lS47 The membership OF his church had increased
from brtytwo to 275 and it was regarded rs one OF
| the strongest in the State.
| CALLED TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH
| In 1916 lot of land on Cranberry-st, Brooklyn
which had been occupied since 1873 by the first
presby terrain Church, was purchased by John l.
| Howard with the idea OF establishing Congrcga-
tional Church. On May s, 1S47. David Hale, oil New
| York Ira PaJno. John T. Howard, Charles Rowland,
| David Griffin and Henry c. Bowen met at the house
OF the latter resolved themselves into association
OF ;ruste es of the church and decided 20 begin
holding services at once. In the following week ar
Beeeher came to NewYoIk TO speak ut the anDiyor-
| sary Of the American Home Missionary Society, and
he invited by the trustees to preach at tho open
| ing service OF Plymouth Church. This he did TO an
immense audience on Ms, Is. On Juno ii the trus-
tees sent linn letter asking him to cop the pastor
ate OF the church. The health Of his family aud
the calls OF wider field OF useiuls npelled him on
August 10 to accept An amusing theol ogicd ek
alton preceded his installation. Do You believe
| ia the Perseverance OF the Santa T. asked Dr.
humphrey. ~ vas brought up 70 i nsnsss toat
| till went out West aud how Easter n Christians
| lived when they vent oat there i confess since
| then have bad my dOnbs." But Mr. Beecher passed
through the ordeal, and on October TO- ls4' ne en-
tered upon duties continued through the remain
der of his lite as pastor of Plymouth Church. One
of his first acts was TO distinctly state IRON the
Plymouth pulpit his principles and beliefs. hc an.
nounced that he ronld preach Christ living and ful
of love- by whose standards all men shond rule then
da ~ acts, advocate the temperance cause ana hght
on the side OF snti-slavery. There no need Tor
him 10 wait in order TO prove his words by his deeds
| FOR the storm burst almost Immediately III tho
! North were inesOluliOn weakness and desIro Tor
peace at any cost the disin'egratiOn OF the
| tnou But Mr.. Beecher's 6ghting blood was up and
| he threw himself into the thick OF tho conflict la
his throughout y.
speeches. in his writings and in his daily intercourse
with men Mr.. Beeehcr inveighed against lowing 70
the slave poncr at this time 100, he began hs Star
Papers. 10 The Independent, which produced
FAR reaching impression. go
Under his care Plymouth Church rapidly increased
in numbers aud influence. The year 1919 brought
the nIst revival OF his iasorate which was followed
by rnsny others in succeeding. years. The ch9LeI
BUILDING itself rebuilt and enlarged in l6JO
MIR. BercLers popularity as a preacher ana man
wac constantly increasing. Ills large audience
were every Sunday swclled by stranSers Every hour
OF his busy, intense LIE was crowded iull
The WAR.
The overwhelming defeat OF the Free Soil party in
1852 was followed 10 May 1854 by the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise, ana slavery WAS allowed to
enter where it had been excluded. Mr.. Beecher
was among the first to express the ind gnaun OF the
Northern States at this breach Of good faith But
the march of events moved with almost bewdering
rapidity In Massachusetts and Connecticut com
panes were incorporated TO aid emgrants settling
the new Territories From the Nor thwestern States
came Likewise sturdy children OF the Puritans in
search OF homes and freedom. But the fertile
plains OF Kansas they met rampant Shareholders from
Missouri with their gangs OF slaves aud hostile
defenders OF the institution" from the Southern
slave States, eascri 10 force the Territory at the
m~zzles OF Their rifles into the shdckles oil pro-
slavery despotism. Standing in his church Mr.
Beecher decl that the innocent must be 'ected
by force IL need be against the guilty. Aud The prac-
iisal result the starting of subscription III
Plymouth Church TO supply every Eastern family
going to Kansa. with Bible and a rife. When. on
June H. 1856, at Philadelphia. the Republican
NationaI Convention declared for the maintenance
OF the principles the Declaration OF Independence
embodied in the Constitution Tor the prescrvat0n OF
the Constitution, the rights OF the States and the
union OF the States. and resolved that Congress
In A.. Torr NJ